The effect of early attachment on mate choice
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Abstract
In my research, I investigated the factors that influence adult mate choice preferences and the basis on which people choose a partner. I will present attachment and attraction theories that may affect courtship romantic relationships. One dominant attachment theory suggests that parental parenting style in childhood influences later mate choice preference, i.e., individuals prefer a partner who is similar to their opposite-sex parent if they experienced emotional warmth from them in childhood. The completed questionnaire package was made available via an online interface. The 58 adult couples who participated had an average age of M = 34.87 years and an average relationship length of M = 7.5 years. In my research I used the Relationship Satisfaction Scale (RAS-H), the Experiences of Direct Relationships Questionnaire (ECR), and the Parenting Attitude Questionnaire (s-EMBU). The results suggested that although a link between parenting style and relationship attachment was not clearly demonstrated, it did not determine the level of relationship satisfaction. Since relationship choices and preferences are based on multiple mechanisms, it is not possible to say that only parenting style is responsible for this.
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